4 Rules for Acing the Medical Office Manager Job Interview – 5/6/2013

Employment in the healthcare and social assistance industry—including hospitals, medical offices, and nursing and residential care facilities—will increase by 33 percent between 2010 and 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is great news for medical office managers. However, while job opportunities should be plentiful, competition for positions at the best organizations will be stiff. After all, a career as a healthcare adminstrator is one of the most rewarding healthcare careers possible without a medical degree. Fortunately, a prepared job candidate can still stand out from the crowd. Whether you’re applying for your first position or reaching for the next rung on the proverbial ladder, consider these four rules to ace the job interview.

1. Pretend you’re Sherlock Holmes

You need to think like a detective if you want to ace your job interview. This means using every tool at your disposal to dig into the details of the medical office, staff members and hiring manager. Use Google to search for press releases and articles about the practice or hospital and its
physicians. Check out the office’s webpage, particularly those detailing its history and staff biographies. You might even look up the hiring manager on a professional networking site.

Next, prepare to share what you’ve learned. One way to do this is to work the data into your question responses (“I read that Dr. X wants to expand the practice within two years, something with which I have experience.”) and the questions you ask at the interview (“You’ve been with Dr. X for ten years. What is the best thing about working for him?”)

2. Prepare to answer common questions

Medical office manager positions require focus, so don’t allow your responses to interview questions to wander. Get right to the point and never say anything negative about past experiences. A common question that trips up most applicants is “Why do you want to leave your current job?” Rather than talking about the things that bother you at your current position (difficult coworkers or less than satisfying pay, perhaps), stay positive. You could respond, “I’m actually happy with Dr. Y. However, the opportunity I see to further use my experience and medical office management skills working for Dr. X interests me.”

Expect behavior based inquiries as well. They may include requests such as “Tell me about a time you disagreed with a coworker and how you handled it,” and “Tell me about a mistake you’ve made at work and what you did to remedy it.” Prepare succinct stories that are honest, yet show you’ve learned from your experiences.

3. Show the interviewer your energy

As you know, most medical offices are stressful environments. From waiting rooms full of impatient patients to staff members with difficult personalities, it takes an energetic person to manage it all. Get a good night’s sleep before your interview and arrive at least ten minutes early. Sit up straight or lean forward eagerly as you engage the hiring manager. Make eye contact, don’t fidget, and respond to and ask questions with enthusiasm.

4. Schedule the next step

Unless you’re attending the final interview, your goal is to secure another one. At the end of your session with the hiring manager, provide an opportunity to schedule the next step. For example, you may choose to close with, “I’ve enjoyed learning more about Dr. X and the practice today. I have time next week for a second interview with him if you’d like to set one up.” If the plan is for someone to call you to take the next step, ask for a timeframe. Follow up if you do not hear from your contact within that period.

Obey these four rules and you’ll be a step closer to securing your next professional position.